Denny in the News

Splendor of Okinawa: Scarlet Jungleflame, roadside Uruma, 26jy25 In order to make Okinawa’s base issues more widely understood within the prefecture, Governor Denny Tamaki held his Talk Caravan at Ryukyu University to grapple with the subject on 28 July. Since taking office, Governor Tamaki has been engaged in his Talk Caravans and on 28 July he held one at Ryukyu University to deepen the understanding of base issues among the youth who will bear the weight of future generations. Within his talk, he alluded to the relocation of Futenma Airfield to Henoko in Nago, claiming, “At the Supreme Court, the Prefecture’s claims were not acknowledged.” So, Governor Tamaki emphasized, “The problem is that the Liberal Democrat Party does not reflect the will of the people”.  More at length, the governor stated, “According to the courts, what has become abundantly clear is that Japanese law has loopholes. While up to now the National Government has pursued regional autonomy, why does it turn to...

Splendor of Okinawa: Lily of the Nile, roadside Uruma 5jy24. On 29 July, Okinawa Defense Bureau Director Shinya Ito conferred with Governor Denny Tamaki at the Okinawa Prefectural Office in order to report his leaving office. Due to personnel rearrangements, Okinawa Defense Bureau Director Shinya Ito will take the post of Director of the Defense Ministry’s Contingency Planning Department on 1 August. In his conference with Governor Tamaki, Director Ito recalled his term of about 2 years, noting, “The biggest topic I envisaged pursuing was the form for the planned reversion of US Military bases to Japan. Unfortunately, I can’t say much progress can be seen.” Okinawa Defense Bureau Director Shinya Ito noted however, “I’d like to bring my experience in Okinawa and my sense of awareness of its issues to my new post in Tokyo.” Governor Tamaki hoped, as much as possible, to continue his joint patrols, stricter Liberty rules, and US-Japan coordination to prevent crimes by US Military related ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Treasure Flower, roadside Futenma, 28jn24 On 18 July, the number of new Covid 19 infections was reported for 7 to 13 July at 45 designated medical facilities. It was announced that the average infection per medical facility had risen by 18.04 points. That is compared to last week’s rise of 1.68 points. The increase has occurred for 4 straight weeks. Among the 7 core designated medical facilities, however, 83 patients were admitted, down 2 from the previous week. But the number still remains high. On 4 July, the Prefecture first issued this warning, “This is a preparatory announcement that Covid 19 contagion may become widespread.” It further urged vigilance to health organizations and senior care facilities over widespread contagion. Nonetheless, the upward trend in infection continues. Governor Denny Tamaki, at his regular press conference urged, “Exercise restraint during your 3-day holidays and school vacations, and anywhere lots of people are active. Also conti...

Splendor of Okinawa: Crepe Ginger, roadside Uruma, 21jy24 Facing the opening of ballots in the House of Councilors Election on 20 July, The Ryukyu Shimpo carried out  a fact check on statements and such on the internet and in debates. For this article, we inspected SNS posts which call for a vote to “restructure the path” of political groups. The contents of one post, taken from a post on X, formerly Twitter, on 18 June, reads as follows: “Should Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike support a Tokyo Residents First policy? In fact, that is an infringement of section 136 of the Public Employee Election Law, which states, ‘Public Employees are banned from election activities which make use of their position’, is it not? Moreover, (text omitted) let’s prosecute it!” This post refers to the Tokyo Assembly Election in June, when  Tokyo Governor Koike’s support for a candidate was questioned. 　 However, we have verified that in the House of Councilors Election for the Okinawa Election Distric...

Splendor of Okinawa: Loving Centaury, roadside Uruma, 12 jy24 In the Okinawa Election District of the House of Councilors Election, with ballots opened on 20 July, novice candidate Sachika Takara (46), who had run as unaffiliated but endorsed by All Okinawa’s forces with support from the Constitutional Democratic, Communist, Socialist, and Social Masses Parties, was confirmed victorious.  Ms. Takara campaigned on issues dear to the hearts of voters, such as measures against the high price of goods, and the elimination of the temporary gas tax rate. In addition, she called out the National Government over her concerns about the new base construction at Henoko and showed her stance of clear opposition to the relocation of Naha Military Port to the western coastline of Urasoe. 　 Prefectural Governor Denny Tamaki, who had served as her campaign headquarters chief, supported her, and Diet members related to opposition to the National Administration also endorsed Ms. Takara. Since last y...

Splendor of Okinawa: Pepper (the soul of Ryukyu cuisine), 28jy24. In the House of Councilors Election for the single seat in the Okinawa Election District held on 20 July, Sachika Takara, supported by the forces of All Okinawa, achieved victory. Ms. Sachika Takara (46) is from Naha. Her victory speech follows. “In my campaign I claimed, ‘We live right in the center of politics!’ I was someone who firmly held the viewpoint of  regular people. So, I am promising to all of you that I will make a reality of a politics that gives life to the views of common people. I realize that a lot of people, with the tribulations of their day to day lives, have entrusted to me their consideration of  tax reductions and thoughts about the temporary gas tax rates.  "My seat in the Diet will earnestly carry the voice of Okinawa toward peace. But of course, I will continue to take care of the trust and the considerations which the people of our prefecture deem important, considering the strug...

Splendor of Okinawa: Lantana, roadside Uruma, 12jy24 On 9 August, 8 of the middle and high school students who won the top slots in the 2024 2nd World Youth Okinawan Karate Championship will demonstrate their martial arts skills at the Osaka-Kansai Expo to promote the attraction of traditional karate, the pride of Okinawa. Governor Denny Tamaki, who holds  rank in the Uechi School of karate,  also plans to show his skills on the floor, noting, "The tradition, which karate and the arts play out for the world, is a glory to Okinawan karate with its warriors of peace!” On 21 July, at the Okinawa Karate Stadium in Tomigusuku City, Governor Tamaki participated in a full rehearsal training session with all the schools of traditional karate. The training included traditional schools of karate, such as Shuri-Tomari , Naha , and Uechi , as well as ancient martial arts such as boyasai (Ryukyuan : pole vs. 3-pronged fork) and performances of Ryukyu dances such as eisa (a dynamic drum da...

Splendor of Okinawa: Lily of the Nile, roadside Uruma, 5jy24 In June, the Okinawa Prefectural Awards Committee's Prefectural People's Glory Award was presented to Major League Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts by Governor Denny Tamaki and other members. Separately from that,  Manager Roberts announced publicly on Facebook on 16 July  that he had also been presented a hardball baseball with a traditional Okinawan bingata (Okinawan colorfully dyed fabric) covering among other mementos. According to Prefectural sources, during the chat before the Prefectural People’s Glory Award presentation ceremony, Governor Tamaki had given the ball to Manager Roberts, chuckling,  “It’s something you can actually enjoy using.” The one who proposed the gift was Mitsuo Uehara (56), a leather sewing craftsman from Naha, who had attended classes at Okinawa Crafts Promotion Center’s “Goldsmithing and Craft Sewing Training” held during 2024. Hearing the news that the Prefectural People’s Glory Awa...

Splendor of Okinawa: Hibiscus, Gushikawa RC Church, 23jy24 Okinawa Election District One with its single allotted  seat is considered a bellwether for the 2026 gubernatorial election in 2026. So there was great joy in Naha City among supporters of Governor Denny Tamaki’s All Okinawa alliance when the independent candidate whom they endorsed, Sachika Takara (46), won the seat. She stated, “My victory is linked to everyone’s thought that they want the voice of Okinawa to reach the National Administration!” Rather than with campaign emblems opposing the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield to Henoko in Nago, Candidate Takara broadened support among independents with her strategy of stressing strong criticism of the National Administration. Original Japanese article: Yomiuri Shimbun, published Monday 21 July 2025 at 00:15 https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/7729785bee6d36a95edcb498cf77975c61ad1196 Denny in the News: Denny Tamaki is the governor of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Ramgoat Dashalong, Gushikawa RC Church, 13jy25 The victory of the Candidate Sachika Takara, endorsed by the strength of All Okinawa in the Okinawa Election District for the House of Councilors Election has been confirmed. Governor Denny Tamaki, who served as her Campaign Headquarters Chief, commented with joy, “We all have great expectations of Professor Takara!” As for the new base construction associated with the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield to Henoko in Nago, the governor expressed once again his opposition to the new base, stressing, “Our people’s will in opposition to the relocation remains unwavering!” Touching on the continuing losses in mayoral elections by All Okinawa forces, the governor noted, “We have not wavered at all  in our consideration of how our prefecture’s people can go on pleading our case throughout the Nation.” The governor expressed his feelings on the determined participation of the San Sei Party in the election campa...